Lubricating device



May 15, 1928.

J. R. DERRICK LUBRICATING DEICE Filed April 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May l5, 1928.

J. R. DERRICK LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April 16. 1926 4 sheets-Sheet 2 fl l; Memup May 15, 192s. 1,669,603

J. R. DERRICK LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 15, 1928. 1,669,603

J. Rt DERRlcK LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May l5, 1928.

UNITED STATESv JOHN R. DERRICK, 0F ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

LUBnIoATINe DEVICE.

Application mea April 1e, 192e. serial No. 102,474.

This invention relates to a lubricating device for association with a railway track, and has for its primary object to provide simple and reliable means for automatically oilmg engine and car wheel flanges and the track rails at curves.

The friction between the rails and the tlanges of the wheels of engines and railway cars, as is wel'l known, is productive of rapid weer of the rails and wheel flanges, particulai-ly during the passage of a train around a curve. As a result the life of car Wheels and of rails at curves 1s greatly reduced. [3y vmy invention, however, as has been demonstrated by actual use, eiticient and practical means are provided for applying lubricant to the car wheels and rails, there-` by minimizing the wear upon them.

rlhe principal feature of the invention consists in disposing a lubricant reservoir adjacent theinside or gage side of the web of one of the track rails, and in combining therewith a movable wiper for receiving lubricant from the reservoir and applying it to the part to be lubricated, means being provided for actuating the wiper by movement of the rail resulting from the passage of a ear truck over the track.

A further feature of the invention consists in operating wipers for applying lubricant to the part to be oiled by means of mechanism which is actuated as a result ot the deflection or depression of a portion of one ot the track rails with which the lubricating device is associated. said mechanism including a clutch adapted to release when overloaded.

Another feature of the invention resides in the employment of means for promoting equal distribution of the lubricant in the reservoir of the lubricating device.

Other features of the invention pertaining to advantageous constructions and relations ot parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

ln the drawings illustrating preferred elnbodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an end portion of a lubricator involving the invention, showing its manner of association with the adjacent rail of a railway track, the head of the rail and a portion of the cover of the lubricant reservoir being cut away to more clearly disclose the construction.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the 5g construction shown' in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Fig.

l, but illustrating the opposite end of the lubricating device.

Figure l 'is a side elevational view 'of the 60 portion of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View on the line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. 65 Figures 7, 8 and -9 are detail sectional views on the line 7 7, 8 8, and 9 9, re-

spectively.

Figure 10 is a detail view in vertical section showing one oic the oil breakers and parts of the mechanism adjacent thereto, the view being taken on the line 10 10, Fig. 11.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view on the line 11 11, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrat-- 75 ing the preferred disposition of the lubri-A eatingdevice with respect to the railway track and associated guard rail.

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form ot the invention, showing itsv application to the adjacent track rail, the cover plate of the lubricant reservoir being omitte Figure 14 is a detail sectional view on the line 14 14;-, Fig. 13, a portion of the car sa wheel being also illustrated.

As indicated in Fig. 12, the lubricant reservoir 2 is placed between the rails 1 of the track whileV a guard rail 3 is preferably positioned opposite the reservoir so as to 9u provide means for preventing the oil appl ing disks from being crushed between t e flanges of the engine or ear wheels and the. side of the adjacent maintrack rail head. VThe guard rail/by preventing lateral motion of the passing wheels also serves to retain their flanges in proper contact with the oilers or disks while the wheels are passing the lubricating device. The length of the oil' reservoir as measured along the track is pref- .erably sufficient to ensure application of the lubricant to the entire circumference ofcar wheels of the size now commonly employed.

lThe lubricant reservoir 2 is preferably formed as a metallic trough provided with a detachable cover 4 which is notched or recessed at intervals, as indicated at 5, to permit the oil applying disks or wipers to project above the reservoir. The body of the reservoir may conveniently be made of sheet metal While its ends are referably constituted b angular bars or rackets 6 welded to the s eet metal body portion. The brackets 6 are perforated to receive. bolts 7 which extend through the web of the adjacent rail and thereby serve to maintain the mechanism in propel' position. As well shown in Fig. 7 the lubricant reservoir is positioned be ow the path of travel of passing wheels 8, but the Wipers or disks 9 by which the lubricant is applied to the parts to be lubricated ex tend upwardl suiliciently far to contact with the inner surface of the flanges of the wheels. The disks 9 are preferably made of an absorbent resilient substance, such for example as leather, and their circumferences are preferably somewhat beveled so as to conform enerally to th-e inclination of the inner surface of the flanges. A heavy oil has been found to be a suitable form of lubricant, the

reservoir 2 being filled therewith to a depth permitting the oiler disks to the surface thereof.

Within the lubricant reservoir is a frame serving as a mounting for certain movable parts of the device and enabli the wipers or disks to be adjusted with re ation to the neighboring rail head and wheel flanges to be lubricated. This frame may advantageously consist of oppositely disposed side bars 10 having welded to the respective inner sides thereofnuts 11 for receiving threaded bolts whose headed lower ends rest upon the bottom of the reservoir. By manipulating the bolts 12 the side bars 10 may be raised or lowered in the lubricant reservoir, as will be readily understood. To maintain these bolts in their respective positions of adjustment, bolt locks 13 are preferably employed. As well illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 10 and 11, these bolt locks may advantageously be U- shaped members wlnch rest upon the bottom of the reservoir 2 and engage the sides of the latter. The inwardly extending legs of the bolt locks are slotted, the slots 14 in the lower legs being of a form to prevent rotation of the bolts 12, whose heads cooperate therewith. Raising the bolt locks 13 u wardly permits the ad'usting bolts 12 to turned, but when the olt locks are in normal position their engagement With the sides of the lubricantreservoir 2 prevents turning of the bolts, as `will be readily understood. Lengthwise ad'ustment of theside' bars 10 is preferably e ected by means of a dip well below pair of adjusting4 screws 15 (see Fig. 3) which are respectively secured to the bars and pass outwardly through the adjacent end of the reservoir. Inner and'outer adjusting nuts 16 and 17, respectively, cooperate with each of the adjustmg screws 15. As will hereinafter be apparent, the longitudinal adjustment of the side bars 10 serves to take up slack in the sprocket chain by which the rotary wi er disks are actuated. -KI

Journa ed in the side bars in spaced relation to each other along the track are a plurality of shafts 18 carrying the wipers 9, and alternating therewith are intermediate shafts 19 and 20, respectively, supported by the side bars 10.

Loosely mounted on the intermediate shafts are idler rollers 21 and bales or oil breakers 22 and 23. The idler rollers 21 engage the upper segment of thel .sprocket chain 24, thus serving to maintain the chainA in eiiicient operating relation to the sprocket w heels cooperating therewith. The oil breakers 22 and 23, which preferably are formed of sheet iron, extend toward the bottom of the reservoir 2 on opposite sides of the Vsprocket chain 24 and serve to prevent the latter from causing oil to accumulate unduly at one end of the trough.

Thel adjustable shafts 19 rovide means for forcing the side bearing ars outwardly against the lateral walls of the lubricant reservoir. They preferably consist of a shaft member 25 (see Fig. 11) threaded at its inner end for cooperation with a shaft 'member 26 constituting a threaded sleeve or nut. The outer ends of the sections 25 and 26 of the adjustable shafts project into suitable seats or socket bearings 27 of the frame members 10, and said shaft members are maintained in adjusted relation by means of coo erating lock nuts 28.

or the purpose of securing the disk wipers 9 to their respective shafts 18 each of the latter is preferably formed intermediate` its ends with an enlargement or collar 29.

' To the inner end of this collar an annular steel plate 30 is welded. Betweenv this plate and an annular plate 31 the leather disk wiper 9 is positioned, the plate or washer 31 being slipped u on the end of the shaft 18 and secured to t ie annular plate 30 by means of rivets 32 passing through the leather disk. In order to permit the wiper disks 9 to adjust themselves for contact with the flanges of passing wheels, each of the disk operating shafts 18 is designed to yield in the direction of its length. For this purpose the end of each shaft 18 nearer the chain is encircled by a spring 33 operatively interposed between the Plate 31 and the adjacent side bar 10 in which the shaft is journaled. These nol .springs tend to force the wiper disks 9 away shafts by which the disks or oilers are gusanos carried are respectivelyprovided with sprocket wheels 34 for cooperation with the driving sprocket chain 24.

At one end of the reservoir 2 is a driving shaft 35 extending from t-he reservoir through the web of the adjacent track rail. This. shaft preferably extends through the web of the rail at or about the center thereot and projects somewhat beyond the outer edge of the rail base. Secured to the. end of the shaft within the lubricant reservoir (see Fig. 5) is a sprocket wheel 36 for driving the sprocket chain 24. Surrounding the intermediate port-ion of the driving shaft 35 is a bearing sleeve 37 which passes through the web of the rail and extends into the lubricant reservoir. Welded to this sleeve toward its outer end is a bar orbracket plate 38 secured 'to the rail by means of the bolts 7. Surrounding the sleeve 36 on the inside oit the web ofthe rail are steel washers 39 which space the lubricant reservoir 2 a short distance from said web. To prevent oil from leaking from the reservoir through the opening tor the driving shaft 35 a coinpressiblc washer 40, preferably made of felt, encircles the sleeve 37 and bears against the adjacent inner face of the reservoir.. Metallic washers 41, which are interposed between said felt packing washer and a clamping nut 42 having threaded engagement with the inner end of the sleeve 37 serve to maintain the compressible washer in proper contact With the parts to be packed.-

Journaled on the driving shaft outside ot the rail is a ratchet wheel 43 placed between two friction washers 44 which preferably are made ont iber.- rlhe'inner fiber washer 44 l bears against a circular flange or clutch plate 45 with which the driving shaft 35 is provided, while the outer liiloer washer is overlaid by a metallic plate or washer 46 which is pressed'inwardly of the shaft by means ot :i spring 47. l'lhe vspring is maintained on the shaft by means of a nut 48 carried by the latter. By turning the nut 48 the spring 47 'may be compressed so as -to induce suiiicient friction between the ratchet wheel 43, the

dange 45 oi the shaft, and the intervening liber washer 44, thus enabling the ratchet wheel to drive the shaft 35 under conditions of normal load, but permitting slippage or release of the ratchet wheel inthe event of overload. This clutch mechanism is preferably incorporated in the lubricating device tor the sake of preventing injury tothe the vibrations of the depressible railsection, it is caused'to rotate by pivoted pawls 50 and 51, respectively, the former being a pushpawl and the latter a drag pawl. These p awls may conveniently be retained in operative relation to the ratchet wheel by means of a. connecting spring 52. At their lower ends the pawls 50 and 51 are pivotally secured by means of a threaded -stud 53 and cooperating nut to a bracket 54 whose upper end is forked or bifurcatedl to receive and permit vertical movement of the driving shaft 35 on which the ratchet wheel is mount-- ed. The 'lower portion of this bracket eX- l -lustrated in Figs. 13`and 14, the lubricant is applied by means of wipers termed as tabs 59 of leather or fibrous material secured to a continuous sprocket chain 60 whose lower segment travels through the oil in the reservoir. At its opposite ends the sprocket chain cooperates with sprocket wheels 61 and 62, respectively, the former being an idler and the latter serving to drive the chain.

The driving shaft 63 to which the sprocket wheel 62 is secured is preferably actuatedl by ratchet mechanism-such as that employed for turning the driving shaft 35 of the form of lubricating device heretofore described. The .lubricant reservoir is provided with a detachable cover 64,v preferably a spring steel sheet, forming a support tor the upper segment of the sprocket conveyor chain and oilers for substantially the full length of the reservoir. The sprocket chain is preferably made of suhicient length to permit the full circumference of standard car wheel danges l vtoi be oiled by successive wipers or tabs 59 as the wheel passes along the lubricating device. y

A longitudinally extending groove or chanthe chain'belt. A series oit springs 66 arranged at intervals may advantageously be employed for supporting the cover vmember of the reservoir. y

Referring to the construction shown in the principal figures of the drawings.. when an engine or a car truck passes over 'the rail at the point where the ratchet mechanism is located. the rail is depressed, due to the iinposed load. and the ratchet wheel 43 moves cooperate with the ratchet wheel are sustained against vertical movement because lnel 65 is preferably formed in the cover` .plate forrreceiving the upper Segment ot downwardly As the pawls 50 and 51 which -o'f being mounted upon the-vertical bracket 54 secured to the cross, ties,.tl ie awl causes the ratchet wheel 43 to revo ve as it moves downward, while the' awl `51 effects ,i driving rotation thereof W en the section of track rail adjacent the ratchet is relieved mounted, thereby causing these disks to dip into the lubricant of the reservoir and carry said lubricant u wardly so as to apply it tothe flaitgesv o the passing wheels. The

vengine and car wheels in turn apply the oil to the flange engaging surface of the rails, thereby preventing both flange wear of rail on curves'and wear of engine and car wheel flanges.

In the modified form ofv construction the travel of the chain belt induced by the passing of a train causes the wipersv which 'are carried by the segment of. the chain which is uppermost at the time to apply the lubricant to the flanges oit' the passing wheels. as will readily be understood.-

Iclaimzj i l l. A lubricating device 'for association with a railway track having a depressible rail section, involving a lubricant reservoir j secured to and movable .with the rail, means movable with respect to said reservoir for' .elevating the lubricant to the part to be lubricated.,` and mechanism for operating 'said means, said mechanism including a ratchet wheel adapted to be bodily moved vertically by the depression of a track rail caused by the passage of a'railway vehicle thereover, and a' plurality of pivoted pawls alternatelyv adapted to rotate said ratchet wheel in the same direction. l

2. A lubricating device for vassociation with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, means movable with respect to said reservoir for supplying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and means for actuating said first named means involving a ratchet member and a plurality of cooperating pawl members, each of said pawl members being relatively movable 4with respect to said ratchet member to alternately effect a rotation of the latter in the same direction, and at leastone of said members being movable with a depressible rail section to which said reservoir is rigidly secured.

3. A lubricating device for association .with a railway track, involving lubricating means positioned between the track rails and adjacent. one ofsaid rails, and a guard rail beadapted to extend between a rail of thev track and the flange of a car wheel cooperating therewith, and a guard rail positioned opposite said member adjacent the inner side of the other track rail for limiting lateral movement of said flange toward the adjacent side of said rail.

.5. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir positioned 'below the path of travel of 4the car wheels, movable means forffreceiving lubricant from the reservoir and transferring it to the part to be'lubricated, said movable means normally tending to assume a position out of contact with the adjacent rail head, and means for adjustin the angular position ofsaid first name means to compensate for wear of the latter and also of the adjacent track rail and the flanges of -car wheels passing thereover.

6.'A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a' lubricant reservoir, a plurality of rotary disks adapted to dip into the lubricant and to transfer the latter to the part toI be lubricated, said disks being adapted-to extend between the head of the adjacent rail and the flange of a cooperating car wheel passing thereover. springs respectively tending to move said disks away fram the said rail head and means for adjusting the angularl position of said disks to compensate for theirwear and that'of the adjacent rail and flangesV of car wheels. v

7.' A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, a. plurality of spaced shafts, a frame in which said shafts are journaled, and wipers respectively secured to said shafts and adapted to apply the lubricant to-the part to be lubricated, said frame being vertically adjustable and said shafts being yieldingly movable in their direction of length.

8. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving alubricant reservoir, a plurality of spaced shafts` wipers mounted on the respectiveshafts and adapted to apply the lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and means for revolubly supporting said shafts, said means being adjustable vertically and in the direction of length of the track.

9. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, a plurality of spaced rotatable shafts, each of said shafts being provided with a sprocket wheel whereby it may be driven, a sprocket chain co-operating with the sprocket wheels, said chain being positioned in the reservoir andhaving one of its segments adapted to travel in the lubricant, means actuated by the movementl of said chain for applying the lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and means arranged between said shafts for opposing unequal distribution of the lubricant in the reservoir as a result of the movement of the chain.

10. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a. lubricant reservoir, a plurality of spaced rotatable shafts, each of said shafts being provided with a sprocket wheel and with a disk for applying the lubricant to the part to be lubricated, a frame disposed within the reservoir and forn'iing a supportfor the shafts, a sprocket chain cooperating with the lsprocket wheels to drive the shafts, said frame involving oppositely disposed side bars extending along the track, and intermediate adjustable shafts for positioning said side bars with respect to each other.

l1. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, a plurality of spaced rotatable shafts each provided with a sprocket. wheel and with a disk for applying the lubricant to the part. to be lubricated, a sprocket chain cooperating with the sprocket wheels, said chain being disposed in said reservoir in spaced relation to the sides of the latter? and breaker members for the lubricant positioned in the reservoir and disposed between adjacent disks on opposite sides of the said chain.

12. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, means for applying the lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and mechanism actuated by the passage of acar over the track for operating said means, said mecha,- nism including a clutch device adapted to release when overloaded.

13. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, means extending into said reservoir for applying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, mechanism for actuating said means including a plurality of sprocket wheels and a cooperating` sprocket chain, said sprocket chain being arranged in the reservoir and. having one segment adapted to pass through the lubricant, and means positioned in said reservoir at the side of said chain operating to oppose collection of the lubricant at one end of the reservoir.

14. A lubricating device for association with a railway track involving a lubricant reservoir positioned on the inner side of an adjacent track rail below the path of travel of the car wheels, means for applying the lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and mechanism operated upon the passage of a car over the track for actuating said means, said mechanism being adjacent the outer side of device involving a. shaft extending through the web of .the-adjacent rail and provided with a sprocket cooperating with the chain and also including a pawl and ratchet means \for actuating' said shaft upon the passage of a carrover the track, said sprocket and said pawl and ratchet means being upon opposite sides of the rail. Y

16. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving'a lubricant reservoir, means for applying the lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and mechanism for actuating said means, said mechanism including revoluble shaft extending from the reservoir through the web of the adjacent track rail and provided with aratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, said track rail being between. the reservoir and the ratchet wheel, and a pawl device adapted to effect a rotation of said ratchet wheel.

17. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir positioned between the track rails and adjacent the inner side of one of said rails, a plurality of movable wipers spaced along the track for supplying lubricant from the reservoir to the part to be lubricated, `said wipers being adapted to. extend between the head of the adjacent rail and the flange of a car wheel and to be actuated by the passage of a car over the track, and a guard rail positioned between the track rails and constituting means for limiting lateral movement of car trucks with respect to Wipers.

18. A -lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, means movable with respect to said reservoir for supplying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and mechanism for operating said means, said mechanism comprising a plurality lof relatively movable members one of which is secured to and movable with a rail of the track so as to be actuated by said rail upon vertical movement of the latter in either direction inducedby passage of a railway vehicle over the track.

19. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir positioned between the track rails and adjacent one of said rails, a device movable with respect to said reservoir for supplying lubricant to thepart to be lubricated, said device-being adapted to extend between the head of the adjacent rail and the flange of a car Wheel, and means for operating` said device, said means being actuated by said rail upon flexure of the latter vertically in either direction induced by passage of a railway vehicle over the track.

20. A Vlubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, means movable with respect to said reservoir for applying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and mechanism for operating said means, said mechanism including a pawl and ratchet device and a clutch, said pawl and ratchet` device being actuated by said rail upon movement of the latter resulting from passage of a railway vehicle over the track, and said clutch being adapted to release when overloaded.

21. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involvind a lubricant reservoir, means rotatable witzli respect to said reservoir for applying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, and mechanism for operatingsaid means, said mechanism being actuated by said rail upon vertical movenient of the latter in either direction to thereby cause a unidirectional rotation of .said rotatable means.

22. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant reservoir, a frame within said reservoir, said frame comprising s aced side bars which are independently a justable vertically, and means rotatabl mounted on said bars for transferring lu ricant from the reservoir to the part to be lubricated, said means being adapted to extend between an adjaceiitrail and the flange of a car wheel.

23. A lubricating device for association with a railway track, involving a lubricant i'esei-voir, a frame 'disposed within said reservoir and vertically and longitudinally ad instable with res )ect to the latter, a plurality of rotatable disks adapted to dip into the lubricant and to transfer-the latter to the part to be lubricated, said disks bein adapted to extend between the head of t e ad]a-' iiigthe position of the frame with respect to said driving means. In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

JOHN R. DERRICK. 

